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Fort museum readies for winter

Jack Shuster - Special for the Ruidoso News

Posted:
12/11/2012 07:16:06 PM MST

The museum at Fort Stanton State Monument, one of Lincoln County's important historical landmarks, began winter hours this week, said Clinton Smith, president of Fort Stanton, Inc., the volunteer group that operates the museum.

During December, the Fort Stanton Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday through Saturday. Sunday hours will be from noon to 4 p.m.

The museum schedule will be cut to just Saturday and Sunday hours from January through March.

Few sites in the nation encompass the breadth of history seen at Fort Stanton State Monument, the best-preserved fort in New Mexico, Smith said. A must-see attraction, the monument sits on New Mexico Highway 220 that bisects the Billy the Kid Scenic Byway. The state's newest monument features more than 155 years of southwestern history ranging from its initial creation as a military garrison to its significance as the first tuberculosis hospital in the state, to an internment camp for German seaman during World War II.

Visitors begin the journey through the history of the fort at the museum, which features an exhibit and introductory video with period images and informative interpretive content that bring the rich history and heritage of Fort Stanton to life. The museum store sells a variety of gifts and keepsakes that support the mission of Fort Stanton, Inc, in the group's efforts to preserve the history of New Mexico and the West, as well as educate the public about the historical significance of Fort Stanton.

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The Fort Stanton Museum weekend hours coincide with the public living history interpretations of the Fort Stanton Garrison featuring inf_antry, cavalry and art_illery detachments that exemplify the pre-Civil War military era of the fort. The garrison will set up camp at Fort Stanton on Dec. 14 and Dec. 15, and will present living history interpretations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can enjoy the regular morning drill exercises of Company K, 8th U.S. Infantry (1858) followed by a Victorian family Christmas celebration in the afternoon.

The soldier's wives and children, as well as guests, will create Victorian tree-trimming ornaments and listen to the music of the era.

Anyone interested in becoming a living historian is invited to join the drill at 8 a.m. Dec. 15.

Fort Stanton, Inc., officials also are announcing the dates of Fort Stanton Live!, to be staged July 12, 13 and 14 in 2013. The annual event brings costumed living historians from the Civil War and Indian Wars era to Fort Stanton for demonstrations, presentations, a candlelight tour, concert and a military ball. The event also attracts authors, historians, photographers, artists and a variety of historical vendors to the site to share their crafts and other handiwork. Special tours also will be available.

Volunteers are welcome to keep the Fort Stanton Museum open and expand the hours. Volunteers receive a one- to two-hour orientation to introduce them to the museum and gift shop. An additional orientation is available to those interested in conducting tours of the parade grounds. Following orientation, new volunteers are assigned to work with an experienced volunteer and, when ready, are put on the Fort Stanton Museum schedule for a three-hour shift.

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